Programs

Photobook Fair

The CONTACT Photobook Fair brings together independent publishers and leading contemporary photographers to present newly released publications. The fair offers a number of book signings and the opportunity for emerging photographers to present their projects at the Book Dummy Sessions. This event was conceived with the desire to create a space for practitioners and book enthusiasts to build connections, discover new projects, and exchange ideas on books and photography.

Artists who are in the advanced stages of developing a photobook are welcome to have their work seen by a publisher or photographer featured in the fair at the Book Dummy Sessions. Through casual meetings, individuals will receive conceptual and practical insight into their projects.

Burtynsky Grant

Birthe Piontek, Holding, 2015, from Abendlied. Courtesy of the artist.

2018 Burtynsky Grant awarded to Birthe Piontek for Abendlied

Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky and CONTACT established the Burtynsky Grant in 2016—a $5,000 annual grant to support Canadian artists and photographers who are at the advanced stages of developing a photobook for publication.

“Birthe Piontek’s Abendlied examines how individual relationships in a family are shaped by the processes of growing up, aging, and eventually letting go. Piontek’s well-resolved book project sequences images of her family members interacting with textiles, household objects, and each other to weave a cohesive yet curious narrative about identity and belonging.” – The Jury

The jury would also like to acknowledge two Honourable Mentions for their strong submissions:

Workshops

Workshop participants at "Visual Language: How Pictures Speak to Each Other"

CONTACT organizes and co-presents numerous Workshops and Events, including portfolio reviews, lectures, panel discussions, film screenings, and tours. Catering to all levels of interest in photography, these initiatives stimulate dialogue and encourage participation. 2018 highlights included: a two-day, photo-based workshop with New York-based photographer Jason Fulford (J&L Books) about the relationships between images; and a two-day editing workshop with Nigerian documentary photographer Tom Saater and Toronto-based photo editor/curator Liz Ikiriko thatfocused on developing individual’s projects through group critiques.

Gattuso Prize

Installation view, With an instinct for justice at Doris McCarthy Gallery. Shadi Harouni (L-R), The Lightest of Stones, 2015; I Dream the Mountain is Still Whole, 2017; I Long for a Game of Football, 2017.

The Gattuso Prize of $5,000 acknowledges an outstanding Featured Exhibition in CONTACT. The jury—Liz Ikiriko (curator and photo editor) and Magdalyn Asimakis (curator and writer)—based their decision on the conceptual and technical excellence of the work, as well as the curatorial vision.

“With an instinct for justice deftly negotiates the embodied nature of resistance in a time of social, political, and ecological urgency. Harouni and Rasmussen’s photography and video works render gentle insight into our anxious world. The work acknowledges lineages of refusal, labour, and the human toll of oppressive structures, while their meticulous technical and conceptual approaches are exquisitely considered.” - The Jury

CONTACT's Featured Exhibitions, selected to be part of the Festival through a juried submission process, are independently organized by artists, venues, and organizations across the city.

CONTACT gratefully acknowledges the generous support and contributions of La Fondation Emmanuelle Gattuso. The Foundation demonstrates strong leadership and influences innovation across all charitable sectors in Canada including health care, culture and the arts.

AGO | CONTACT Photography Talks

Arthur Jafa, Love is The Message, The Message is Death, 2016. Film still. Courtesy Arthur Jafa and Gavin Brown’s enterprise, New York/ Rome.

The Art Gallery of Ontario and CONTACT annually present a series of talks featuring leading international artists and thinkers reflecting on the history and future of photography and its impact on our culture.

Portfolio Reviews Award

Established in 2010, the Portfolio Reviews Award offers one artist a solo exhibition at the CONTACT Gallery, a $2,500 credit at Toronto Image Works, and a professional 17-inch Epson printer from Vistek. The recipient is chosen by a jury of international professionals in the field of photography, and the award recognizes outstanding work presented at the reviews. The program was created to support and advance the careers of talented emerging photographers.

CONTACT gratefully acknowledges the Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Image Works and Vistek for supporting this award.